Let's shift the perspective to Lumine. She had just arrived outside Liyue Harbor and had already activated a waypoint.
"You're finally here, aren't you? I've been waiting for you for a long time," a voice rang out.
Lumine turned around and found a Damselette sitting on a pile of rocks.
"Mona?" Charlotte recognized the Damselette as Mona.
Because Lumine had met Xiangling on the way and delayed a few days to collect ingredients and participate in a competition, Mona had arrived in Liyue before her.
"Oh? It's Charlotte, the reporter," Mona said, a little surprised.
The Traveler is from beyond Teyvat, so calculating her movements was already difficult. Therefore, Mona didn't bother to calculate those accompanying her.
She often published articles in the Steam Bird Newspaper and had naturally been interviewed by Charlotte.
"You two know each other?" Paimon asked.
Charlotte introduced them, and only then did Lumine and Xiangling realize that the other party was a very powerful Astrologist.
"I used Hydromancy to figure out the identity of that Mondstadt girl. She's actually a descendant of my master's arch-nemesis."
"So, of course, I can't lose to her. Lumine, how about coming back to Mondstadt with me? This is an Adventurer's commission I'm giving you."
Mona stated her purpose: she wanted to win against that Mondstadt girl.
See, your Honorary Knight of Mondstadt is my apprentice!
"But we just arrived in Liyue," Paimon said, a little troubled.
"The remuneration won't be small!" Mona had just received her manuscript fees, so she had money.
"Remuneration! Lumine, let's just go back for a bit. Anyway, the waypoint is already activated," Paimon immediately defected.
Ying couldn't resist Paimon's offensive and had to agree to the suggestion.
"Then I'll go to Wanmin Restaurant to wait for you all. Remember to find me!" Xiangling said.
"I'll also go to Liyue first to organize my information. I'll find you when you come back," Charlotte said.
Along the way, she had learned the entire process of the Dragon Disaster in Mondstadt from Ying, and she was now planning to organize the information and send it to the Steam Bird Newspaper.
She didn't plan to return to Fontaine, because she happened to catch Liyue's Rite of Descension, and it would be a pity not to record it.
Everyone went their separate ways.
Having talked about the Traveler, let's return to Lin Qiu.
Furina and The Knave's meeting was over, but The Knave also invited Lin Qiu to the House of the Hearth for a talk.
"Qiu, are you really going?" Furina asked, a bit worried about Lin Qiu, her ahoge swaying left and right.
That The Knave is a ruthless killer. Is it too dangerous to go to her territory?
"Don't worry, nothing will happen," Lin Qiu reassured her.
If The Knave invited him to another place, it would be hard to say, but if it was the House of the Hearth, then it was probably fine.
This is her 'home'.
Making a move here would be tantamount to telling the whole world that the Fatui killed the Prophet.
One must know that Lin Qiu is no ordinary person; he is the world-renowned Prophet.
Most importantly, while Lin Qiu couldn't defeat Arlecchino, he had a teleport waypoint, so he could run.
I'll just teleport to Liyue, and you can continue riding your horse to Liyue to chase me.
Upon arriving at the House of the Hearth, it was just as Lin Qiu had expected: The Knave would not make a move here.
She invited Lin Qiu into the house, and there, Lin Qiu finally met Lyney and Lynette.
However, it was only a brief encounter; they served tea to Lin Qiu and Arlecchino and then left.
"Mr. Lin Qiu, there are some things that cannot be said directly in front of the Archon."
"Now, I want to ask, how much do you truly know about my story and experiences?" Arlecchino stared at Lin Qiu and asked.
Lin Qiu knew that to fool people, one couldn't be entirely enigmatic; one also had to provide some vague information.
So Lin Qiu uttered two words and a name: "Crimson Moon, Clervie."
Arlecchino's pupils constricted slightly, but her expression and actions remained unchanged.
The mere name of Clervie earned Lin Qiu a surge of emotional value.
Arlecchino clasped her hands together on her crossed legs, her right index finger tapping lightly.
"ProphetLin Qiu, your value is far greater than I imagined."
"Her Majesty the Tsaritsa's decision was correct. Recruiting you into the Fatui will be a wise choice."
"Therefore, I, Arlecchino, formally extend an invitation to you on behalf of Her Majesty."
"Are you willing to become a FatuiHarbinger? Her Majesty will bestow upon you a new 'name' and power."
Lin Qiu fell into thought. Although his actions of changing character destinies were, in a sense, raising a flag of rebellion against the Heavenly Principles.
But so far, he only wanted to save those people in the blind spots of the Archons' Vision and hadn't thought of directly conspiring to overthrow the Heavenly Principles like the Cryo Archon.
Overthrowing the Heavenly Principles might be a good idea, but Lin Qiu didn't really want to join the Fatui. He really didn't want to be colleagues with Il Dottore.
The other Fatui Harbingers were fine; at most, they were unscrupulous in achieving their goals, but they were still human.
But that Il Dottore fellow, he's not just unscrupulous; he literally doesn't do anything human.
Speaking of which, this guy seems to have even researched The Knave. Part of The Knave's abilities comes from a 'Curse'.
Among them is 'flame', which is not the pyro element provided by a Vision, but an 'flame' of unknown origin.
If Il Dottore is researching this, it's possible that when the Cryo Archon raises her rebellion, he might use this flame to burn down Irminsul.
Teyvat's starry sky records the future, and Irminsul records the past. It's possible both are creations of the Heavenly Principles.
The Fatui are rebelling against the Heavenly Principles. If Irminsul truly is a creation of the Heavenly Principles, then the possibility of burning the tree is very high.
"Allow me to consider it further," Lin Qiu neither refused nor agreed.
Although he didn't want to become Fatui, it was possible they might truly cooperate in the future.
"Is that so?" Arlecchino didn't react much, her tone remaining calm.
"It's a pity, Mr. Lin Qiu, that we couldn't work together."
"But the House of the Hearth always welcomes your arrival."
Arlecchino stood up and opened the door for Lin Qiu, which essentially meant she was seeing him out.
Lin Qiu didn't linger, smiled at Lynette outside the door, and then left.
"Father, is Mr. Lin Qiu's ability real?" Lyney asked Arlecchino after Lin Qiu left.
Arlecchino nodded. He even knew Crimson Moon and Clervie; even if he wasn't a Prophet, he wasn't an ordinary person.
"Try your best to build a good relationship with Mr. Lin Qiu, Lyney," Arlecchino specifically instructed Lyney.
In her future, time might not be abundant.
Lyney, you will be the next The Knave, the next Father, the next King.
"Understood, Father," Lyney nodded.
The Knave said no more and walked back into the house.
Lyney, your path to becoming King will not be like mine.
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Character Voice Line · The Knave: About Lin Qiu
"A very interesting ability. Not only can he foresee the future, but he also knows others' pasts. Hmm... such an ability should know many stories, perhaps ones that can be told to the children."